Monday, October 26, 2009

San Francisco Urban Wind Power Directive

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Directive 09-07 outlines the city’s plan to reach 50 MW of in-city renewable energy generation. Released on October 23, 2009, the directive includes the following:


Goals:

  • Maximize renewable energy technologies in areas of the City where they make the most sense

  • Reduce polluting fossil fuel power generation

  • Reduce CO2, NOx and particulate emissions and smog generation


Challenges:

  • Overall, San Francisco has only a moderate medium- to large-scale wind resource, and small-scale wind potential has not been fully realized yet


The Department of the Environment Actions:

  • Develop an SF Wind Map that maps the city’s wind resource at the finest possible resolution

  • Explore the feasibility of implementing an anemometer loan program to help potential wind customers better understand their wind resource

  • Work with the Department of Building Inspection and Planning Department to explore permitting cost refunds


San Francisco Public Utilities Commission directives:


  • Make data from its 20 wind monitoring stations publicly available

  • Install more anemometers in particularly windy parts of the City

  • Work with City departments (like the SF Zoo, Port Authority, Parks and Recreation, and others) to develop a site plan for installing small municipal wind demonstrations


Planning Department and Department of Building Inspection tasks:


  • Convene a small wind permitting subcommittee comprised of representatives from the small wind industry, bird advocates, and permitting authorities, to review permitting requirements

  • Make permitting requirements and application procedures publicly accessible

  • Consider revising city-wide height limits to exceed what is currently allowed, thereby allowing for greater wind power generation

No comments:

Post a Comment